Dispensing closure apparatus for medicine tablet bottles



L. G. AMlCK Nov. 27, 1962 DISPENSING CLOSURE APPARATUS FOR MEDICINE FBLET BOTTLES 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 14, 1959 United States Patent Eihdh Patented Nov. 27, 1962 3,065,846 DISPENSING CLOSURE APPARATUS FR MEDE- CINE TABLET BTTLES Lon G. Amiek, 637 W. 59th Terrace, Kansas City, Mo. Filed Sept. 14, 1959, Ser. No. 839,832 6 Claims. (Cl. 20d-42) This invention relates to bottles adapted for retail distribution of medicinal tablets and particularly to an improved medicine tablet bottle having dispensing closure apparatus positioned within the outlet portion thereof.

Many medicinal tablets which are distributed in glass or synthetic resin bottles or containers, are effective when taken in proper dosages but many times are sufficiently toxic to cause illness or even death if taken in quantities larger than the recommended dosage, this being particularly true of children. Although vigorous educational campaigns have been conducted by the manufacturers of therapeutics las well as various safety groups, it is many times impossible to keep all bottles of medicine out of the reach of children and furthermore, in some instances, the tablets 4are left where children may obtain ac-cess to the same through negligence and other careless acts. Although the dangers attendant to overdoses of medicinal tablets vary with the type of medicine, the problem is particularly acute with respect to aspirin tablets by virtue of the yfact that nearly every family has one or more bottles of this medicament on hand at all times. Furthermore, bottles of aspirin are generally kept where the same are readily accessible when needed and are thereby stored in places which children are familiar with and can reach either by climbing or simply opening a cabinet door.

rIt is therefore, the prima-ry object of the present invention to provide a medicine tablet unit comprising a novel container and dispensing closure therefor, which precludes removal of tablets from the bottle until after the closure has been rotated to a predetermined position, and furthermore, only one tablet at a time is permitted to pass through the outlet neck of the bottle each time the bottle is shaken or otherwise moved to thereby discourage the child playing with the bottle before a considerable quantity of the tablets are removed therefrom.

Also an important object of the invention is to provide improved closure means for medicine bottles as referred to above wherein the combination dispensing and closure .apparatus is constructed of one piece, may be readily molded from synthetic substances to lower the cost of the apparatus, Iand of a configuration permitting the same to be readily inserted in the neck section of the bottle during packaging of the medicinal tablets.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide combination closure and dispensing apparatus adapted to be mounted on a medicine tablet bottle wherein is included an element rotatably mounted in the neck section of the bottle and which may be rotated from a position preventing tablets from being dispensed from the bottle, to a position whereby substantially one tablet at a time may be removed yfrom the tablet container upon shifting of the bottle to a substantially upside down position.

An additional important object is to provide combination closure and dispensing apparatus as set Iforth immediately above wherein is included means for maintaining the rotatable element in the position thereof preventing tablets from being removed from the bottle and requiring greater force than that merely to rotate the element, in order to move the latter to a location permitting tablets to be dispensed from the tablet container, whereby it is impossible or difcult for small children to rotate the closure and dispensing apparatus to the open position thereof.

A further important object of the invention is to provide improved combination closure and dispensing apparatus for medicine tablet bottles wherein the apparatus may be utilized in lieu of the normal screw cap closing the open end of the container, whereby the cost of the entire unit is maintained substantially vat a level equal to current costs and with the safety feature referred to above being an added, inherent property of the apparatus at substantially no additional cost to the consumer.

Although particularly applicable to aspirin bottles and similar medicaments, it is also to be understood that a still further important object of the invention is to provide an assembly which is applicable for use with all types of medicines distributed in tablet form.

Other important objects and details of construction of the present invention will become obvious or be explained in greater detail as the following specification progresses.

ln the drawings:

FlGURE ll is a .side elevational view of a medicine tablet container embodying certain features of the present invention and having one type of combination closure and dispensing apparatus rotatably mounted in the outlet of the container, certain sect-ions of the container and apparatus being -in vertical cross-section to illustrate details of construction thereof;

FlG. 2 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View taken on the line l2---2 of FIG. l and looking upwardly in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FlG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view similar to FlG. 2 but illustrating the dispensing and closure apparatus `in the normally open position thereof, with medicament tablets being shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 5 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 4 and also illustrating the closure and dispensing apparatus in an open position;

FIG. 6 `is -a fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view through a tablet container and combination closure and dispensing apparatus mounted thereon and embodying another form of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal, cross-sectional View taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6 `and looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 and showing a still further embodiment of the present invention and including stop means for restricting rotation of the combination closure and dispensing apparatus mounted on the tablet container;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a tablet container and combination closure and dispensing apparatus therefor made in accordance with the concepts of a still further form of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on the line 1li- 10 of FIG. 9 and looking upwardly .in the direction of the arrow, the side walls of the container being illustrated in the normal positions thereof;

FIG. 1l is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIG. 10 and illustrating the combination closure and dispensing apparatus in the closed position thereof;

FIG. 12 is a vertical, cross-sectional view similar to FIG. l1 with the exception that the combination closure and dispensing apparatus is disposed in the open position thereof;

FIG. 13 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view similar to FIG. l and showing the container with the side walls thereof moved outwardly to permit unrestricted rotation of the closure and dispensing apparatus, it being understood that the container is constructed of flexible material;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIGS. 11 and 12 and illustrating another type of closure and dispensing apparatus employing the basic principles of the present invention;

FIG. l is a horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of FIG. 14 and looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 16 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 15 and illustrating the dispensing-closure apparatus in the open position thereof.

A medicine tablet unit designated generally by the numeral 1t), embodies the preferred concepts of the instant invention and is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings. The principal components of unit 11) comprise a hollow container or tablet receiving bottle 12 and dispensing closure apparatus 1- rotatably mounted on container 12. Externally threaded, substantially cylindrical neck section 16 of container 12 is integrally joined with the opposed side walls 1S and Ztl thereof and also to spaced, transversely narrower end walls 22 and 24. The normally lowermost extremity of container 12 is closed by an integral bottom 26 joined to the lower marginal portions of side walls 1% and 26 and end walls 22 and 24.

It is to be preferred that container 12 be of a configuration similar to that in which aspirin tablets have been distributed for a number of years, and with end walls 22 and 24 being relatively flat along the major lengths thereof and curving inwardly to join with the lower margin of neck section 16, while side walls 13 and 2t? are transversely curved as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The distance between the inner opposed faces of side walls 18 and 2@ is substantially less than the distance between corresponding, opposed inner faces of end Walls 22 and 24, this relationship being maintained even though side walls 18 and 2@ curve outwardly away from each other along longitudinal lines intermediate the margins thereof integral with respective end walls 22 and 24. Although container 12 may be constructed of various materials including synthetic resins, it is especially contemplated that for the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. l to 5 inclusive, that container 12 be of glass.

Dispensing closure apparatus 14 comprises a cylindrical element 28 rotatably mounted within neck section 16 of container 12, including a cylindrical main body portion 30 having an external diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of neck section 15, whereby the outer surface of body portion 3% is in complemental engagement with the neck section of container 12. The innermost cylindrical secondary body portion 32 of element .23 and integral with main body portion 3S, extends into the interior of container 12 between side walls 18 and Zitand end walls 22 and 24, as best shown in FIG. l. The innermost end of secondary body portion 32 is closed by a transversely extending, circular end wall 34, while element 28 is maintained in predetermined disposition on neck section 16 of container 12 by an integral, annular flange 36 joined to the upper margin of main body portion 3i? and slidably engaging the outer circular edge 33 of neck section 16, and annular, circumferentially extending bead 40 on element 23 at the zone of juncture of main body portion 39 and secondary body portion 32, engaging an inner shoulder 42 presented by the juncture of the lower margin of neck section 16 with side walls 18 and 211 and end walls 22 and 24 respectively. It can be seen in FIGS. l, 3 and 5 that the distance between the edge engaging surface of flange 36 and bead 4G is substantially equal to the longitudinal length of neck section 16 to thereby preclude removal of apparatus 14 from container 12, yet permitting rotation of element 28 about the longitudinal axis thereof which is coincidental with the axis of neck section 16.

Secondary body portion 32 of element 2S is provided with a rectangular opening 44 therein adjacent end wall 34- and which is of a size to permit only one of the medicine tablets 46 to pass therethrough and into the interior of element 28. It is to be recognized that the size of opening 44 may be varied to conform with the size of tablets packaged in container 12, but inasmuch as the instant unit is particularly advantageous for utilization in distribution of aspirin tablets, tablets 46 have been illustrated as conventional IO-grain aspirin tablets of disc shaped configuration.

Element 23 is adapted to be rotated as dened above and therefore, if desired, a series of serrations 48 may be provided on the outer annular surface of flange 36 to facilitate rotation of element 28 within neck section 16.

Although the distance between the outer surface of secondary body portion 32 of element 23 and respective proximal inner surfaces of side walls 1S and 2G is less than the normal thickness of each of the tablets 46, it is to be preferred that each of the side walls 18 and 2t) be provided with a hemispherically configured, inwardly extending, integral wall segment 50 aligned with opening 44, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. Wall segments Se absolutely preclude entrance of tablets 46 into element 28 through opening 44 therein when closure apparatus 14 is disposed with the opening 44 therein in direct alignment with one of the wall segments 50.

For retail distribution purposes, a conventional screw cap 52 is threaded over neck section 16 in closing relationship to the opening defined by edge 38 of neck section 16.

Itis contemplated that dispensing closure apparatus 14 be constructed of a somewhat ilexible, synthetic resin material 'such as polyethylene so that apparatus 14 may be distorted to a sufficient extent to permit insertion of the same within neck section 16 of container 12. However, apparatus 14 should not be of suicient flexibility that the same may be readily removed from container 12 and therefore, other plastic substances may be utilized such as nylon or styrene, if desired. Thus, the diameter of element 2S may be decreased to a suflicient extent to permit the same to be inserted within neck section 16, whereupon ange 36 engages edge 38 and bead 40 contacts shoulder 42 whereby element 28 is retained within neck section 16. Container 12 is first filled with the required number of medicine tablets 46, whereupon apparatus 14 is inserted in neck section 16 as described above, and with the last step being placement of screw cap S2 over neck section 16 in threaded engagement therewith.

In utilization of unit 10 to dispense tablets 46 therefrom, screw cap 52 is removed and then element 28 is first rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof from a position with opening 44 in direct alignment with one of the wall segments 5t?, and through an arc of approximately ninety degrees to a position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, whereupon one of the tablets 46 may pass` through opening 44 into the interior of element 28. In this manner, the tablet 46 may be removed from element 28 upon inverting of unitdfl. It is to be perceived that as many tablets 46 as desired may /be removed from container 12 by shaking the same suiciently to cause tablets 46 to pass through opening 44 one at a time and into element 2S for removal from unit 1t).

After the required number of tablets 46 have been dispensed from container 12, element 28 is again rotated ninety degrees to a position with opening 44 in alignment with one of the wall segments St) and then cap 52 is replaced on neck section 16.

Not only is unit advantageous in preventing children from removing large quantities of tablets 46 from container 12, but the safety features inherent in the article and as set forth above .are obtained without any substantial increase in cost of the package by virtue of the fact that container 12 may be constructed with conventional glass-forming equipment, while dispensing closure apparatus 14 is adapted to be formed in suitable injection molding machines.

The modified medicine tablet unit 110, illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, also includes a hollow container 112 identical with container 12 with the exception that integral, inwardly extending, hemispherical-shaped wall segments 56 .are omitted, with container 112 thereby having a cylindrical neck section 116 integral with opposed side walls 113 and 126 and end walls 122 and 124, Dispensing closure apparatus 14 is also modified from that illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive, in that apparatus 14 includes an elongated, tubular element 123 provided with a main body portion 130 similar to main body portion 30 in that the same is in rotatable, complemental engagement with the inner surface of neck section 116 and with annular ange 136 on the outer margin of main body portion 136 slidably engaging the outer circular edge 133 of neck section 116, while the integral, outwardly projecting, annular, circumferentially extending bead 140 at the opposite end of main body portion 136' engages shoulder 142 of container 112.

The inner, secondary body portion 132 of element 128 is substantially Lshaped in longitudinal section as shown in FiG. 6 and thereby includes a cylindrical main body section 154, coaxial with body portion 130, of lesser diameter than the latter and connected to the margin of body portion 130 adjacent bead 140, by a frusto-conical intermediate section 156. Tubular, laterally extending, secondary body section 158, integral with body section 154 and communicating with the latter, is in substantially perpendicular relationship to the axis of main body section 154 and body portion 136, and is provided with an outer, circular margin 166 defining an opening 144 of sufficient diameter to clear one of the tablets such .as 46. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, secondary body section 153 is of sufficient length that the margin 160 thereof is in closer proximity to either the side wall 120 or 122 when opening 144 is facing the inner surfaces of such side walls than the normal thickness of a tablet 46, whereby the latter cannot pass into element 123.

However, when element 128 is rotated substantially ninety degrees so that the margin 161) of section 158 is facing toward either end wall 122 or 124, tablets such as 46 may enter element 128 through opening 144 one at a time and during shaking of unit 110i.

A still further modified unit 210 is illustrated in FIG. 8 and includes a container 212 and closure dispensing apparatus 214 which are identical with the components of unit 116, with the exception that apparatus 214 is provided with an integral, outwardly extending stop 262 thereon which is disposed to engage the side wall 220 of container 212 and thereby limit rotational movement of apparatus 214 to an arc of substantially ninety degrees. It is also to be preferred that side wall 220 of container 212 be provided with an inwardly projecting, integral, substantially hemispherical wall segment 250 aligned with the opening defined by circular margin 260 of secondary section 253 of apparatus 214. The operation and utilization of unit 210 is identical with that of units ltl and 110.

A fourth modified form of the present invention is designated 311B and is illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 13 inclusive of the drawings. Unit 310 also includes a hollow container 312 having dispensing closure apparatus 314 mounted thereon in a manner similar to the way in which the prior dispensing 'apparatus and closure means previously described is positioned. Container 312 thereby has a cylindrical neck section 316 integral with opposed side walls 318 and 320 as well as end walls 322 and 324, with the lowermost end of container 312 being closed by bottom 326. Container 312 is of substantially identical configuration to that of container 12, with the only exception being that container 312 is preferably constructed of flexible material such as polyethylene rather than glass. Thus, the side walls 318 and 320 of container 312 may be flexed to the position illustrated in FiG. 13 for reasons to be made clear hereinafter.

Apparatus 314 includes a cylindrical element 328 rotatably mounted within neck section 316 and including a main body portion 33t), complementally disposed within section 316 and provided with `an integral, cup-shaped cap component 362 integral with the normally outermost circular margin thereof and an annular, circumferentially extending, outwardly projecting bead 340 disposed to slidably engage the internal shoulder 342 of container 312. As best shown in FIGS. ll and l2, cap component 362 includes .a circular outer top wall 364 closing the uppermost end of container 312, as well as an annular skirt 366 overlying the outer surface of neck section 316. 1t is to be understood that apparatus 314 is molded of a synthetic resin material such as polyethylene and that wall 364 of component 362 is rupturable by the customer in order to permit tablets to be dispensed from container 312 through element 32S. In this respect, if desired, the thickness of wall 364 directly overlying the opening delined by neck section 316, may be of substantially less thickness in order to facilitate rupture of the wall by merely pushing inwardly on the same.

The inner, cylindrical, secondary body portion 332 of element 323 and extending into the interior of container 312, has a pair of opposed, substantially rectangular, aligned openings 344 therein of a size to permit one tablet such as 46 to pass therethrough. Openings 344 are disposed in proximal relationship to transversely eX- tending end wall 334 closing the innermost end of portion 332. ln order to prevent tablets from passing directly through both of the openings 344 instead of remaining within element 328, end wall 334 has a centrally disposed, upstanding segment 368 the longitudinal length of which is perpendicular to openings 344. The slope on opposed faces of median raised segment 368 directs tablets 46 toward the interior of element 328.

In order to prevent tablets from being dispensed from container 312 while openings 344 are in facing relationship to side walls 318 and 320, the latter are provided with integral, inwardly projecting, generally rectangular, transversely arcuate wall segments 350 which extend into respective openings 344 as best shown in FIG. 10, when the latter are aligned with corresponding segments 350.

In utilization of unit 310, tablets `are initially placed in container 312 and then apparatus 314 is placed over neck section 316. When the customer desires to dispense tablets from container 312, he merely ruptures wall 364 and then rotates apparatus 314 ninety degrees to position openings 344 in lfacing relationship to corresponding end walls 322 and 324. Rotation of apparatus 314 about the axis thereof may be facilitated by squeezing of container 312 to shift walls 322 and 324 toward each other, whereby side walls 318 and 320 spread outwardly to positions to cause w-all segments 350 to clear the margins of element 32S clearing respective openings 344, whereby element 328 may be readily rotated.

A fifth modified medicine tablet unit broadly designated 410 is shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 inclusive and likewise includes a container 412 of the general configuration set forth above, as well as dispensing closure apparatus 414 which is, in certain respects, similar to apparatus 314 and in other respects to apparatus 114. Container 412 has an upper, cylindrical neck section 416 integral with opposed side walls 418 and 420 as well as opposed end walls 422 and 424. Element 428 of apparatus 414 hasy a main cylindrical body portion 430, rotatably and complementally disposed within neck section 416 and provided with a cap component 462 identical with component 362 of apparatus 314. In this respect, component 462 has a skirt 466 surrounding section 416 as well as a top wall 464 closing the upper end of container 12 defined lby circular margin 438 of section `416. Annular, outwardly projecting, circumferentially disposed bead 440, integral with main body portion 430, is disposed to engage the internal shoulder 442 within `container 412 to thereby prevent apparatus 414 from being removed from container 412.

The secondary body portion 432 of element 42S is substantially T-shaped in transverse cross-section and therebyr includes a cylindrical main body section 454 joined to main body portion 430 at bead 449 by intermediate, substantially frusto-conical section 456. Opposed, tubular secondary sections 458, extending in opposite directions from section 454 and communicating therewith, each have circular margins 460 presenting opposed openings 444 o f sufficient size to clear a single tablet such as 46. The normally Iinnermost curved surfaces of sections 458 remote from section 454 have a raised area 468 similar to raised segment 368 and serving to cause the tablets to pass into the interior of element 428 rather than outwardly through an opposed opening 444. The longitu dinal length of area 46S is in perpendicular relationshipto the axis of sections 458.

In order to preclude tablets from being dispensed from container 412 when apparatus 414 is in the closed position thereof as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, side walls 41S and 420 of container 412 are provided with integral, inwardly projecting, hemispherically configured wall segments 450 which are adapted to extend into respective openings 444 of sections 458. As previously set forth,

apparatus 414 is preferably constructed of synthetic resin material and is thereby deformable, whereby the outer margins 460 of sections 453 may flex sufficiently during rotation of apparatus 414 to clear corresponding wall segments 450, whereby element 428 may be rotated from the open to the closed position thereof.

Dispensing of tablets from unit 410 is the same as previously described and it is to be recognized that upon rupture of top wall 464 and rotation of element 428 through an arc of ninety degrees from the closed position thereof, that openings 444 are disposed in facing relationship to opposed end walls 422 and 424 whereby tablets may pass through such openings into element 428 for dispensing from container V412.

One particularly important feature of dispensing closure apparatus 314 and 414 is that the same eliminate the necessity-of utilizing a screw cap such as 52, and the skirt 366 of component 362 and skirt 466 of component 462 simulate theappearance of a cap. The defined dispensing and closure apparatus are also advantageous because the same provide a moisture proof seal when elements 328 and 428 are in the closed positions thereof, notwithstanding the factthat respective top walls 364 and 464 have been ruptured to permit removal of tablets from containers 312 and 412 respectively.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A medicine tablet unit comprising a hollow container adapted t-o receive a quantity of said tablets in random arrangement, said container being provided with a neck section having an inner, circumscribing shoulder and an-outer edge `defining an outletgfa tubular element rotatably mounted in said `neck section ofthe container and having an inner end extending into the interior of the rcontainer,said element having an outer open end adjacent said outlet and said inner end of the element being provided with an opening in the side thereof for clearing .a tablet to permit the latter to be removed from the container through said element, the portion of said inner end .of the element having said opening therein being in sufficient proximity to the adjacent area of the container when the element is in one position `thereof to prevent a tablet in the container from passing into the element through tsaid opening and the latter being disposed to clear a tablet when the element has been rotated to another position thereof; and projecting means on said element at longitudinally spaced locations thereon for engaging the edge and said shoulder of the neck section of the container and precluding removal of the element from said neck section without substantial deformation of the element.

2. A medicine tablet unit comprising a hollow container adapted to receive a quantity of said tablets in random arrangement, said container being provided with la neck section having an outer edge defining an outlet; and a tubular element rotatably mounted in said neck section of the container and having an inner tubular end portion extending into the interior of the container and lclosed at the innermost end thereof by a transversely extending end wall, said inner end portion being provided with a side wall and an opening in said side wall adjacent said end wall for clearing a tablet passing thereto along a path transverse to the longitudinal axis of said element to permit the tablet to be removed from the container through said element, the section of said inner portion of the element having said opening therein being in sufficient proximity to the adjacent area of the container when the element is in one position thereof to prevent a tablet in the container from passing into the element through said opening, said inner end portion being disposed to permit a tablet to pass between the container and the inner end portion and Ainto said opening when the element has been rotated to another position thereof.

3. A medicine tablet unit asset forth in claim 2 wherein said container is provided with -a side wall connected to said neck section thereof and having an integral, inwardly projecting wall segment in opposed, aligned relationship with the opening in said inner section of the element to more effectively prevent tablets from entering said element through the opening therein when the element is in lsaid one position thereof.

4. A medicine tablet unit as set forth in claim 2 wherein `said inner end portion of the element is transversely L- shaped and having `a main body section and a secondary body section extending laterally from said main body section, said secondary body section having an outer margin dening said opening and said secondary body' section being of suicient length to cause said margin thereof to be disposed in closer proximity to the adjacent area of the side wall of the container when the element is in said one position thereof, than the normal thickness of one of said tablets.

5. A medicine tablet unit as set forth in claim 4 wherein said element is provided with stop means thereon for restricting said element to rotation substantially from said one position thereof to said other position of the same.

6. A medicine tablet unit comprising:

a hollow container of flexible material adapted to receive a quantity of said tablets in random arrangement and having a pair of spaced side walls and a neck section provided with an outer edge defining an outlet; and

a'tubular element rotatably mounted in said neck section vof the container and having an inner tubular end portion extending into the interior of the container, said inner end portion having a transversely extending end wall closing the innermost end thereof and provided with a pair of opposed, tablet clearing openings therein adjacent said end wall thereof, each of said side walls having an integral, inwardly projecting wall segment thereon, said inner end portion being disposed Within said container in sufficient proximity to the side walls thereof to permit said `segments to be aligned With and extend into respective openings in said inner end portion when the latter is in one position to thereby prevent tablets from entering said tubular element and said inner end portion is disposed within said container to permit tablets to pass thereinto through said openings after said inner end portion has been rotated to another position thereof and said side walls have been flexed to move said segments out of said openings to permit rotation of the tubular element with respect to the container.

Referenees Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

